Men’s Health
Problems of the Prostate Gland:
Function
Located below the male bladder.
Produces seminal fluid , crucial for sperm
motility and fertility.
Common Issues
Enlargement with age, known as Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)1.
Can interrupt normal urination and affect
both urinary and sexual functions.
Risk Factors
Age: Most common pathological condition in
men 65+.
Lifestyle: Worsened by smoking, alcohol (ETOH), obesity,
diabetes mellitus (DM), & heart disease.
Symptoms (s/s)
Frequency: Need to urinate more often.
Urgency: Sudden, strong need to urinate.
Difficulty urinating: Hesitancy or straining.
Slow stream: Reduced urine flow.
Start-stop stream: Intermittent flow.
Dribbling: Leakage after urination.
Nocturia: Frequent urination at night.
Incomplete bladder emptying: Feeling of residual urine.
Retention: Inability to urinate.
Diagnosis
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen): A protein produced by the
prostate.
o Elevated levels can indicate cancer but may also be raised due
to BPH, urinary retention,
infection, recent ejaculation, or
prostate stimulation1.
Diagnostics
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Not within
nursing scope; performed by physicians.
o Normal findings: Non-tender, no
masses, rubbery, walnut-sized
prostate2.
ACS Recommendations for Screening
Age 50: For all men with at least a 10-year
life expectancy.
Age 40-45: For men at high risk (e.g.,
family history of prostate cancer)2.
Treatments
Bladder drainage:
, o Coudé catheter: Curved tip for easier insertion.
o Wire-guided Foley: Inserted by a urology provider.
Medications:
o Alpha-
Adrenergic
Blockers: Doxazosin
(Cardura),
Tamsulosin (Flomax).
o 5-Alpha
Reductase
Inhibitors:
Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia).
Surgical Intervention
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Removal of
prostate tissue
via the urethra.
Post-Operative
Care
Continuous
Bladder
Irrigation
(CBI): To
prevent clot
formation and
ensure clear
urine output.
o Irrigation: Runs to gravity; adjust based on clots and drainage
color.
o Monitoring: Close attention to intake
& output is
essential.
Prostate Cancer with highlighted key phrases and
definitions:
Modifiable Risk Factors
Red meat: High consumption linked to increased risk.
Hormone supplements: May influence cancer
growth.
Obesity: Associated with higher incidence and worse
outcomes.
Symptoms
Problems of the Prostate Gland:
Function
Located below the male bladder.
Produces seminal fluid , crucial for sperm
motility and fertility.
Common Issues
Enlargement with age, known as Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)1.
Can interrupt normal urination and affect
both urinary and sexual functions.
Risk Factors
Age: Most common pathological condition in
men 65+.
Lifestyle: Worsened by smoking, alcohol (ETOH), obesity,
diabetes mellitus (DM), & heart disease.
Symptoms (s/s)
Frequency: Need to urinate more often.
Urgency: Sudden, strong need to urinate.
Difficulty urinating: Hesitancy or straining.
Slow stream: Reduced urine flow.
Start-stop stream: Intermittent flow.
Dribbling: Leakage after urination.
Nocturia: Frequent urination at night.
Incomplete bladder emptying: Feeling of residual urine.
Retention: Inability to urinate.
Diagnosis
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen): A protein produced by the
prostate.
o Elevated levels can indicate cancer but may also be raised due
to BPH, urinary retention,
infection, recent ejaculation, or
prostate stimulation1.
Diagnostics
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): Not within
nursing scope; performed by physicians.
o Normal findings: Non-tender, no
masses, rubbery, walnut-sized
prostate2.
ACS Recommendations for Screening
Age 50: For all men with at least a 10-year
life expectancy.
Age 40-45: For men at high risk (e.g.,
family history of prostate cancer)2.
Treatments
Bladder drainage:
, o Coudé catheter: Curved tip for easier insertion.
o Wire-guided Foley: Inserted by a urology provider.
Medications:
o Alpha-
Adrenergic
Blockers: Doxazosin
(Cardura),
Tamsulosin (Flomax).
o 5-Alpha
Reductase
Inhibitors:
Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia).
Surgical Intervention
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): Removal of
prostate tissue
via the urethra.
Post-Operative
Care
Continuous
Bladder
Irrigation
(CBI): To
prevent clot
formation and
ensure clear
urine output.
o Irrigation: Runs to gravity; adjust based on clots and drainage
color.
o Monitoring: Close attention to intake
& output is
essential.
Prostate Cancer with highlighted key phrases and
definitions:
Modifiable Risk Factors
Red meat: High consumption linked to increased risk.
Hormone supplements: May influence cancer
growth.
Obesity: Associated with higher incidence and worse
outcomes.
Symptoms
